Tourism industry continues to grow

Posted: Wednesday, July 12, 2017. 4:21 p.m. CST.

By BBN Staff: Belize continues to attract increasing amounts of tourists, according to the latest overnight visitor statistics from the Belize Tourism Board.

The BTB released its latest statistics this afternoon, showing overnight growth rates for the month of April, second quarter 2017 and for the first half of 2017.

April visitors rose from 30,656 in 2016, to 38,090 in 2017; a growth rate of over 24 percent. Overnight visitors went up by more than 20,000 visitors for the first quarter, from 101,748 in 2016 to 122,227 in 2017.

First half statistics were even better, with growth of over 27,000 visitors, moving the total from 213,594 in 2016 to 230,152 in 2017. Cruise passenger arrivals did under perform by some 28.1 percent for the month of June when compared to 2016, falling from 65,399 to 47,007; however, the sector did see an overall increase of 3.1 percent. 

The BTB said that the growth provides a positive outlook not only for the remainder of the year but beyond 2017 as well.

“They also represent the successful efforts of the industry in marketing and promoting Belize as a growing, viable and attractive tourism destination,” the BTB added.